Golf swing training device

ABSTRACT

A golf swing training device allows a golfer to practice a correct swing technique. The golf swing training device includes a base; a vertical arm connected to the base; a bar secured to the vertical arm; a ring secured to the bar.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/375,387 filed Aug. 20, 2010, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a golf swing training device. More particularly, the present invention refers to a golf swing training device that improves the golf player's posture, head position, and weight distribution during the backward and forward swing for a proper golf swing and improved clubface contact with the golf ball.

The requirements of a good golf swing, as set forth in the instructional classic, Golf My Way by Jack Nicklaus—who has won 18 major professional golf championships and is considered by many the greatest golfer of all time—with Ken Bowden, are: 1. The head, or at least the neck or the top of the spine, is the fulcrum or hub or axis of the swing. As such, any shifting of it up, down or sideways must inhibit or weaken the spring like coiling of the body on the backswing that is so essential to the generation of proper leverage on the forward swing; 2. Any shifting of the head, at any point from address to impact, will alter the arc and plane of the swing, which, if not a totally destructive factor, is certainly a very complicating one; 3. Movement of the head changes the line of vision, and it tends to force the eyes to alter their image or focus. It is very difficult to hit any object you are not looking at; and 4. As the heaviest part of the body, relative to its size, the head has a strong influence on balance. Few people are agile enough to retain their full balance during the exertion of a full golf swing if their head moves. Jack Nicklaus goes on to say, “When you think about these factors it is easy to see why a steady head is the one fundamental of golf that is universal to all ‘methods’ and to all teaching systems throughout history.” Therefore, failing to follow any of these conditions may result in poor golf swing performance. As can be seen, there is a need for providing a swing training device which will allow a golfer to practice a correct swing technique taking into account all of the conditions required to improve his/her golf swing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a golf swing training device includes a base; a vertical arm connected to the base; a bar secured to the vertical arm; and a ring secured to the bar.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective front view of the golf swing training device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention showing the swing training device in use;

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective front view of the swing training device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of the swing training device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 illustrates a detailed view of the swing training device of FIG. 2 showing an assembly of a ring and a bar;

FIG. 5 illustrates another exemplary embodiment of the ring of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 illustrates another exemplary embodiment of the ring of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective front view of a base of the swing training device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the swing training device taken along line 8-8 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 9 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the swing training device taken along line 9-9 in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 10 illustrates a detailed view of the swing training device of FIG. 2 showing connections between the base, a base connector, an arm, and a base socket post.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features.

Broadly, embodiments of the present invention generally provide a golf swing training device which may allow a golfer to practice a correct swing technique.

FIGS. 1-3 illustrate a golf swing training device 10 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The golf swing training device 10 may be used indoors or outdoors. The golf swing training device 10 may be placed on the ground. The golf swing training device 10 includes a base 44, an arm 18 connected to the base 44, a bar 14 secured to the other end of the arm 18, and a ring 12 secured to the bar 14. As a golfer 36 swings a club 40 back, the golfer 36 may be able to see a golf ball 38 by passing his/her line of sight 42 through the ring 12.

The base 44, the arm 18, the bar 14, and the ring 12 may be made of a sturdy material. In some embodiments, the base 44, the arm 18, the bar 14 and the ring 12 may be made of plastic, metal, polymer, composite, or wood. The base 44, the arm 18, the bar 14, and the ring 12 may have a geometrical shape. In some embodiments, the shape of the base 44; the arm 18, the bar 14, and the ring 12 may be round, square, or rectangular.

The base 44 may be easily moved by the golfer 36 around the field. The base 44 may include at least one arm 24 to help stabilize the golf swing training device 10 on the ground. In some embodiments, the base 44 may include two arms. In some embodiments, the arm 24 may be a solid plate. The arm 24 may be a hollow arm. A weighted insert 26 may be slid inside the arm 24 to help stabilize the base 44. The base 44 may have a swivel connector 20. The swivel connector 20 may help to connect and rotate the arm 18 with respect to the base 44. The swivel connector 20 may set the arm 18 at a 110° angle to base 44. The swivel connector 20 may rotate 360°. The swivel movement may allow the golfer 36 to adjust the position of the arm 18 for practice in different conditions, i.e. side hill, uphill, downhill, or bunker.

The bar 14 may be a hollow bar. The bar 14 may be a horizontal bar. The bar 14 may have different lengths. In some embodiments, the bar 14 may be 3.5 inches long. The ring 12 may have different sizes. In some embodiments, the ring 12 may have a 2.5 inch inner diameter. FIGS. 2-3 and 9 show that a connector 16 may be attached to the other side of the bar 14. The connector 16 may include a bend 17. In some embodiments, the connector 16 may be an L-shaped connector. The bend 17 may cause the ring 12 to lie in a plane at substantially a right angle with respect to the arm 18. The bend 17 of the connector 16 may be a 90° bend.

As can be seen on FIGS. 4-6, the ring 12 may include a plug 19 that slides inside one end of the bar 14 to attach the ring 12 to the bar 14.

As can be seen from FIG. 5, an insert 32 may be clipped inside the ring 12. The insert 32 may narrow the viewing area of the golfer 36, giving more advanced feedback, i.e. smaller movements of the golfer 36 may be better detected through the insert 32.

As can be seen from FIG. 6, a plate insert 34 may be disposed inside the ring 12. The plate insert 34 may cover a determined area of the ring 12. The plate insert 34 may allow the golfer 36 to better understand small movements in the spine and head during a swing. For example, the plate insert 34 may cover the right side of the ring 12 to determine if the golfer 36 is making a small head movement to the right.

FIGS. 7-8 and 10 show that the base 44 may have a hollow core 28 and a post 30 at the bottom end. The swivel connector 20 may slide through the hollow core 28. The post 30 may help secure the swivel connector 20 inside the base 44.

Feedback examples. The examples may be directed to for right-handed golfers. Left-handed golfers may have to invert the results. As the golfer 36 may swing the club 40 back, the golf ball 38 moves through the right of the ring 12, then the golfer 36 may be swaying back to the right. The golfer 36 may practice on setting the right side more solidly to inside of the right foot. To quote Jack Nicklaus, “I was taught to play, and still do play, from the insides of my feet. This was insurance against losing balance or swaying my head or upper body while hitting the ball hard.” Therefore, avoid swaying to outside of the right foot. As the golfer 36 may swing the club 40 back, the golf ball 38 moves through the left of the ring 12, then the golfer 36 may be making a reverse pivot or shifting weight to the left side first instead of correctly doing so to the right. The golfer 36 may practice on getting weight to the right side. As the golfer 36 may swing the club 40 back, the golf ball 38 moves through the top of the ring 12, then the golfer 36 may be raising the head or the spine angle. The golfer 36 may practice on getting a good posture to maintain a constant spine angle by keeping the ball in the ring 12. A tip may be to comfortably keep buttocks out and chin up and then turning the body and shoulders around the steady spine as if the spine were a fulcrum. As the golfer 36 may swing the club 40 back, the golf ball 38 appears to move through the bottom of the ring 12, then the golfer 36 may be dropping the head and/or collapsing the spine angle. The golfer 36 may practice on concentrating on a good posture and constant spine angle. A tip may be to keep the shoulder plane on the through swing the same as the back swing. All of the tips provided, may be best accomplished by the golfer 36 keeping site of the golf ball 38 through viewer 12 while making a golf swing.

A target stick (not shown) and an aim stick (not shown) may be used with the device 10. The target stick (not shown) may be placed in front of the golf ball 38 on the imaginary straight line to the target. The target stick (not shown) may help the golfer 36 to point the club 40 face at a target at set up. The aim stick (not shown) may be placed at the golfer's 36 feet to help square golfer's 36 shoulders, hips and legs along golfer's 36 intended aim line.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A golf swing training device comprising: a base; an arm connected to the base; a bar secured to the arm; and a ring secured to the bar.
 2. The golf swing training device according to claim 1, further comprising a swivel connector to connect and rotate the arm with respect to the base and wherein the connector includes a bend.
 3. The golf swing training device according to claim 2, wherein the swivel connector rotates 360°.
 4. The golf swing training device according to claim 2, wherein the swivel connector sets the arm at a 110° angle to the base.
 5. The golf swing training device according to claim 1, wherein the base includes at least one arm.
 6. The golf swing training device according to claim 5, further including a weighted insert placed inside each arm.
 7. The golf swing training device according to claim 1, further comprising a connector to connect the arm and the bar, wherein the connector includes a bend.
 8. The golf swing training device according to claim 7, wherein the connector is an L-shaped connector.
 9. The golf swing training device according to claim 1, further including an insert disposed inside the ring.
 10. The golf swing training device according to claim 1, further including a plate insert disposed inside the ring, wherein the plate insert covers a determined area of the ring. 